The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

GERMAN IMMIGRANT'S OCTOBER FEST

EACH FALL THE GERMAN-AMERICANS OF GERMANTOWN, WISC. HOLD AN
OCTOBERFEST AND ATTEMPT TO DUPLICATE THE BEER GARDENS OF THEIR OLD
COUNTRY. BEER IS LIBERALLY SERVED ALONG WITH BRATWURST AND GERMAN
BANDS PLAY POLKAS WITH GERMAN VERSE. WAITERS AND WAITRESSES ARE
DRESSED IN THE TRADITIONAL CLOTHING OF THE OLD COUNTRY. THE
FESTIVAL IS GIVEN BY THE LOCAL LION'S CLUB AND THE PROCEEDS ARE
GIVEN TO CHARITY.

Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT PERSONALLY PARTICIPATED IN THE 1967 OCTOBERFEST
IN GERMANTOWN.

Data entry tech comment:
LATE SEPT. TO EARLY OCT. SPICER, DOROTHY. BOOK OF FESTIVALS.

SWEDISH WINE MAKING FESTIVAL ( FALL )

TRADITIONALLY, EACH FALL THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS, MINN. CARRY BUSHEL
BASKETS OF GRAPES FROM THEIR FARMS TO THE TOWN ON FOOT. THE BASKETS
OF GRAPES ARE THEN DUMPED INTO A LARGE VAT AND STOMPED BY BAREFOOTED
GIRLS. AFTER EACH BUSHEL IS DUMPED, THE FARMERS RELAX AND HAVE
SOME OF THE WINE THAT HAD BEEN MADE THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND OPEN(ED)
FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THE FESTIVAL. AFTER THIS THEY RETURN TO THEIR
FARMS AND PICK-UP ANOTHER BASKET OF GRAPES, REPEATING THE
PROCEDURE.

Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THE CUSTOM FROM HIS WIFE WHO IS OF SWEDISH DESCENT.

WEDDING CUSTOMS OF THE SWEDISH IMMIGRANTS

AFTER THE DECISION TO MARRY IS MADE BY A SWEDISH
COUPLE, APPROVAL MUST BE SOUGHT FROM THE PARENTS. THE
PARENTS THEN SET THE DATE FOR THE ENGAGEMENT AS WELL
AS THE WEDDING AND HOLD A PARTY ON THE DAY OF ENGAGE-
MENT.
AFTER THE WEDDING RITES THERE IS ANOTHER PARTY AT
WHICH THE NEW BRIDE IS OBLIGED TO DANCE THE FIRST DANCE
WITH HER FATHER AND THE GROOM LIKEWISE HAS THE FIRST
DANCE WITH THE BRIDE'S MOTHER. THE MOTHER OF THE BRIDE,
DURING THE DANCE, LEADS THE GROOM TO THE ELDERS OF THE
SWEDISH COMMUNITY WHO TAKE HIM TO ANOTHER ROOM. THE
BRIDE'S FATHER LEAVES HER AND LEADS THE ELDERS IN
QUESTIONING OF THE GROOM. THE QUESTIONS PERTAIN TO
HOW THE GROOM WILL TREAT THE FATHER'S DAUGHTER AND
EACH QUESTION IS ACCOMPANIED WITH A SHOT OF WHISKEY.
BY THE TIME THE FATHER RUNS OUT OF QUESTIONS, THE
GROOM IS CONSIDERABLY DRUNK. HE IS THEN DRAGGED TO THE
FEET OF HIS NEW BRIDE AND THE BRIDE IS OBLIGED TO
CARRY HER HUSBAND OUT AND HOME BY HERSELF.

Submitter comment:
THIS WAS A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF MR. SANBORN WHO
MARRIED A GIRL FROM THE SWEDISH COMMUNITY OF HARRIS,
MINNESOTA.

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